Therapies which may benefit Abandonment

Abandonment is a sense of loss or a feeling of being disconnected.
Abandonment is usually through the loss of a relationship and can lead
to depression and low self-esteem. Many people feel a sense of
helplessness and an inability to function normally.
Associated words:
Loss, love, relationship, lonely, insecurity.

Causes of abandonment

Feelings of abandonment can be caused by a variety of life events but
typically are triggered by relationship break-ups, bereavement, betrayal
or simply being alone. Children who are adopted, widowers and those
going through divorce are most likely to suffer with abandonment issues.

Abandonment
can be physical, such as the withdrawal of an individual's presence
through divorce or bereavement, or emotional – the loss of a partner,
friend or loved one through a breakdown in communication. Emotional
abandonment can often be more devastating as people find they are unable
to face the problem and live their lives in denial.

Other causes of abandonment feelings:

Friendships coming to an end

Loss of a pet

Children attending nursery for the first time

Children feeling replaced because of the birth of another sibling

Sexual preferences (realising you're gay)

First love (teenage feelings, broken hearts)

Empty nest syndrome (children moving away from home)

Redundancy

Insecurity within relationships

With
emotional abandonment in relationships, an uncomfortable silence is the
common problem. A partner can stop communicating because the other
partner doesn't listen to what is being said or because they have grown
bored of being with them.

Symptoms/signs of abandonment

Abandonment isn't a symptom in itself but will have associated physical
and psychological symptoms which affect a person's ability to function
normally. Abandonment is similar to bereavement in that people go
through a set of stages with strong feelings and emotions.

The stages of abandonment typically follow this order:

Feeling devastated at the severing of a connection resulting in shock, panic and despair.

Withdrawal
from daily life because of a yearning, craving or longing for the
return of a loved one or a return to normal routine.

A period of self-doubt and blame while trying to make sense of the rejection.

Feeling anger and hatred and wanting retaliation.

Finally letting go and living life in a normal way with a realisation of life's possibilities.

Like
bereavement and grief, there is no timescale for the stages of
abandonment and each person's experience can be different. Understanding
the stages can help you deal with the strong feelings and emotions of
being abandoned. Feelings of abandonment can be overwhelming and lead to
more chronic problems such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Diagnosis of abandonment

Abandonment isn't a condition that can be diagnosed but any associated
physical or psychological problems may require assessment by a
healthcare professional. In the first instance your GP will take a
medical history of your problems and refer you to a mental health
specialist should you be displaying signs of anxiety or depression.